With Autumn comes the rain, the cold, the wind and the leaves fly off to create colourful carpets on the street floors. This is the time when the rain discourages us from going out and, the desire to be in the comfort of our home increases, but the natural life outside continues to take on new shapes and colours. We must not forget to go out for a walk and enjoy these uniquely beautiful Autumn days, especially because the sunny and warm days of the “São Martinho Summer” are here.

It is true that parks and gardens have their beauty at all times and seasons of the year, but we know that Autumn brings a special touch to these landscapes due to its warm tones: the strong yellows, oranges and reds come to replace the greens.

From North to South, there are several parks and gardens that are worth a visit this season, as they gain a special charm:

Parque do Bom Jesus de Braga is one of the most beautiful gardens in Portugal, a picturesque place with diverse fauna and flora where there is no lack of entertainment from the kiosks to the waters that flow there, and there are even rowing boats, ideal for an Autumn afternoon with the family.

We head down to Porto, the well-known Serralves Garden with 18 hectares to enjoy between the Museum of Contemporary Art and Casa de Serralves. A whole variety of trees looks out over this garden, from the oldest to the most contemporary. Alameda dos Liquidâmbares stands out for acquiring a very bright red hue at this time of year, dyeing the entire area red. Alameda dos Liquidâmbares is an ex-libris of this place, as it is different at all times of the year. Despite not being autochthonous, this tree is probably the best known in our country in terms of Autumn in our country and can be easily spotted in the main urban centres, with its yellow and red tones.

Moving on to Parque La Salette, in the centre of Oliveira de Azeméis, which is a key point in the city where nature, leisure and entertainment meet. There is also the Sanctuary of Our Lady of La Salette, the chapel of neo-medieval architecture that, combined with the bandstand, creates a romantic environment where you can admire the Autumn landscape from its natural viewing points.

If in the Winter the tendency is to go out searching for snow in Serra da Estrela, the interior has more to offer when it comes to the landscape in Autumn: the Beech Trail in Manteigas is a route between 5 and 6 km long, in which we walk surrounded by a golden mantle, formed by the beeches and their deciduous leaves. One of the most beautiful backdrops for photographs.

Returning to the coast, in Aveiro, when we arrive at Infante Dom Pedro Park we are surrounded by a romantic atmosphere: starting at the bandstand, going down its stairs, and passing through the fountains, lakes and bridges. An ideal place to go for an Autumn stroll.

The National Woods in Bussaco, in the municipality of Mealhada, as one of the richest national forests in terms of heritage – not only natural but also architectural and cultural – is a must-see spot. Its particular climate, mild and often rainy, favours a wide variety of vegetation. The mythical staircase of the cold spring takes on a new life when at this stage it is covered in the colourful leaves that have fallen from the trees.

Going down to the capital in the South, despite the more urban environment with a Mediterranean climate, there were some (and important) parks and gardens that deserve a walk this season.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Garden is a reference in terms of landscape architecture in Portugal. Designed by Ribeiro Telles and António Viana Barreto, it is composed of several spaces for sitting and leisure, having a lake as the main water feature. It is a space to spend a few hours at between the exterior and the interior of the Foundation’s museum, where you can find exhibitions.

Outside the hustle and bustle of the capital, Sintra is a popular place to connect with nature. The Gardens of the Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Park, in addition to being places that are full of history, gain a special and mystical charm with the arrival of shorter and greyer days. The mist, from its more humid and mountainous climate, creates scenarios that look like they were created for a film.

Autumn is a time for new beginnings or to get back to routines, but we cannot do without moments of leisure and rest to relax, close to nature, by taking walks and quietly enjoying the sounds of the environment.

Amália Souto de Miranda

Landscape architect

Loci Studio